Family Reunions

I spent the last two weekends at family reunions and definitely had a good time. Last weekend Madison and I too a road trip to stay with my mom's side of the family and visit a reunion for my dad's side of the family. On our way there we stopped in Twin Falls to go through the temple open house there which was really cool. It had some great murals of local significance that I enjoyed. This was also my first time driving on the freeway since my car accident last summer, and the first leg of our journey was awful because I was so nervous the entire time.

This weekend Joe, Madison, Hayes, and I went to McCall Idaho for another of my dad's family reunions. We spent Friday out on Payette Lake boating and jet skiing. It was a lot of fun. This was my first time water skiing in about six years, and it was nice to know that I could still get up. Hayes tried the lake out, but it was too cold for his taste. Madison tubed and had a fun time with all of my cousins. The next day a couple of us headed out for some mountain biking in Ponderosa State Park near the lake. There were some pretty grueling hills, but it was fun nonetheless.

Fourth of July

We had a fun Fourth of July. We spent most of the time at my Uncle Jan and Aunt Leann's house going to breakfast and lighting off fireworks that night. Madison and Hayes loved the fireworks, which surprised me, I thought that they would be scared. However they enjoyed playing with the sparklers and reveled in the show that my uncle put-on with his array of illegal fireworks.

Kidless

For our foruth wedding anniversary Joe and I recently took a trip up to northern Idaho...without the kids (thank you Grandma). It was my first night away from the kids since I birthed them. I was pretty excited.

We drove up to Coeur D'Alene and walked around the beach and had dinner at a floating resteraunt. That night we stayed north of Sandpoint at Schweitzer Mountain Resort, which had a great view of Lake Pend D'Oreille.

The next day we went to Silverwood, and amusement park. I was brave enough to ride all the rides, except for a free-falling ride call the Plunge, which disappointed Joe. We hit the waterpark that afternoon during the worst heat of the day. The next day we visited the old Catholic mission (oldest building in Idaho) at Cataldo and walked around the grounds there. We saw the Coeur D'Alene river, and some cemetries, and were eaten alive by mosquitos. We took the scenic drive around Lake Coeur D'Alene on our way home.

It was a great trip, and the kids survived despite our absence!

Venice

Last year I read Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt and absolutely loved it. The book also served as an inspiration for my friend Alyson and I to take a trip down to Savannah, GA, the protagonist of the book. I picked up Berendt's The City of Falling Angels which is about the 1996 fire in the Fenice Opera House in Venice, and just finished reading it, and of course loved it. One of the reviewers made the comment that Berendt makes you want to immediately get on a plane and visit the places he writes about. So true! Venice anyone?

The Quack-Quacks

Madison, Hayes, and I went for a walk on Sunday along the canal near my parent's house. When we walk we have to stop and look at the horses, look for ducks swimming in the canal, meet any dogs that are also out for a walk and listen to the birds in the trees. Before I had kids I rarely noticed animals, and now in the car I excitedly point out any cows I see because they love it! Kids really do help you notice and appreciate the little things in your surrounding environment. We try to take every opportunity now to be outside and look around!

Bicycle

I never thought that I would enjoy mountain biking, or any other kind of biking, but my younger sister Emily got me started on biking this summer. I actually really like to go out biking now. We head for the foothills just north of our house, following a trail beside a canal. At the end of the trail we ascend up into the foothills, and I am surprised every time I make it to the top without tumbling off the narrow trail into the sagebrush. I never thought that I would take up this hobby, but I love it!

Foothills

I have been trying to walk for the sake of being outside a couple of times a week. One of my favorite spots to visit are the foothills near my parent's house. I hike to the top usually around sunset (I have to get the kids to bed so that I can have some peace and quiet). I love the smell of the sagebrush, especially last night while it was raining. You can see the sky which looks endless, and all of Boise. Everytime I get to the top I wonder why I don't do it more often.